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Pacquiao to lead Palarong Pambansa opening ceremony
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Manny Pacquiao shakes hands with President Benigno Aquino III. Benhur Arcayan
Filipino boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao will lead a star-studded opening ceremony of the Palarong Pambansa in Laguna next Monday, state-run Philippines News Agency reported Wednesday.
The PNA report said Pacquiao will join Filipino Winter Olympian Michael Martinez, actor and former Palaro swimmer Enchong Dy, basketball star James Yap and track and field team captain Jericho Estregan in the torch lighting.
Laguna Gov. Jeorge Ejercito Estregan said Pacquiao accepted the invitation to take part in the opening ceremony of the games at the Laguna Sports Complex in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
Estregan said five runners will run 70 meters each during the Palaro torch relay, and Pacquiao will light the Palaro flame.
He said it is a "dream come true" for Laguna to host the games, which he said is the equivalent of the Olympics for some 11,200 elementary and high school athletes.
Guests including former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Education Secretary Armin Luistro and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority head Joel Villanueva are expected at the opening.
With the theme "Sports is A Way of Life," this year's Palarong Pambansa is seen to boost Laguna's goal to be the sports development capital of the Philippines. — Joel Locsin/ELR, GMA News
